Truly Dismal News

It's been a joyous fashion season for me thus far, especially considering that my schedule actually permits me free time to follow the Fall ready-to-wear collections. I had such a horribly busy Fall last year, I was so out of the loop for Spring trends from all the major Italian and French houses. Quelle horreur.

Indeed, New York and London Fashion Weeks have been particularly enchanting and wholly satisfying. I'm sure you caught the fabulously floppy pimp hats at Marc Jacobs, as well as the stellar military-themed jackets (and the surely padded hair halos) at the first ever McQ show.

But my joy has been briefly interrupted by news that Raf Simons is leaving his post as creative director of Jil Sander, one of my favorite European design houses. (Jil Sander is returning to to head up her eponymous label, if you were curious.) It will be sad to see his bold, innovative silhouettes and deceptively simplistic designs leave. There is hopeful chatter, though, that he'll be moving on to Christian Dior. I'll believe it when it excitingly happens.

Anyways, here are my favorite looks from my favorite collection:

Jil Sander Spring 2011 Ready-to-Wear

His last collection, Fall 2012 Ready-to-Wear, will show tomorrow, in case you're dying to see it.

Dear Jessica Chastain: Please Wear Couture

...to the Academy Awards this year!

Jessica Chastain in Givenchy Haute Couture
2012 Golden Globes

She is just so absolutely beautiful, I am truly having a hard time imagining any couture she couldn't pull off. But of all couture, she must obviously wear Armani Privé. I'm sure E! would be salivating at the opportunity to photograph the combination of these reptilian textures and deep, rich shades of green with her light skin and red hair on the red carpet.

Armani Privé Spring 2012 Couture

Also beautiful on her would be these Giambattista Valli couture gowns.

Giambattista Valli Spring 2012 Couture

Here's hoping for a fabulous Oscar's Red Carpet replete with risk taking!

Milan Fall 2012: Burberry Prorsum Menswear

I cannot get over how delightful newsboy caps are! Fortunate, then, for me that Burberry's Fall 2012 menswear collection is fraught with them.

Yes, truly the sexiest men's collection of the season. Just imagine fabulously strolling around London's West End in a fitted, brown velvet suit and a cropped and quilted, fur-collared jacket.

Burberry Prorsum Fall 2012 Menswear

In other Burberry news, I've decided to somehow obtain this watch as a graduation gift to myself:

2012 Golden Globes Red Carpet

Obviously everyone has an opinion when it comes to red carpet fashion. In case you were curious about mine from the Golden Globes last night-

I couldn't possibly single out one look as my best dressed of the evening. So, in a show of how fickle and indecisive I am, I picked three!

Nicole Kidman in Versace

Beautiful embellishments on a truly knockout silhouette that surprisingly works really well for her.
It's sexy, in that kind of Versace sexy way.

Emma Stone in Lanvin

Honestly, the eagle belt is what did it in for me.
In addition to two-toned plum and fuschia goddess gown and her flawless hair and makeup.

Evan Rachel Wood in Gucci Premiere

Multimedia green scales-to-feather gowns get interesting!
Along with her slicked back hair, she looks absolutely and beautifully striking.

In a tier of nearly top-rated looks-

Tilda Swinton in Haider Ackermann

In general, I love her approach to androgyny.
I especially love that she's wearing Haider Ackermann!

Claire Danes in J. Mendel

Rooney Mara in Nina Ricci

J'Adore Dior. Et Mila. Et Marion.

Spring ad campaigns are now upon us as we begin this most auspicious year.

Also beginning this year: decadently beautiful news that Christian Dior signed Mila Kunis as the new face of the house, to appear in deliciously glossy and fabulous ad spreads in the coming months. Miss Dior handbags never looked so elegantly salacious.

Unless, of course, it's Marion Cotillard having a sexy mental breakdown. Hurling around Lady Dior handbags, that is.

Milan Spring 2012: Prada

Prada is finally here.

And it's just as fabulous as I remembered it. Except this time it's all about retro car prints and flower-power-esque patterns. I think I even see a squid on that brown, leather skirt.

I can dig that.

Prada Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

Do you not absolutely love Miuccia's sense of humor? I mean, there're flying cars!

Milan Spring 2012: Gucci

FOMG, Gucci.

Ugh, I don't even know where to begin to express my love of obsession with this brand. With the house. Hell, with Frida Giannini. Everything about Gucci screams luxury. Pure, ostentatious, indisputable luxury.

Case in point: Gucci Spring 2012. The aesthetic is so refined and evolved. As if Tom Ford were still there in spirit. Channeling the 20's/80's.

Gucci Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

I'm loving the metallic plating and piping details.

London Spring 2012: Burberry Prorsum

Put your trust in Christopher Bailey to class up LFW with a street savvy and stylishly urban Burberry Prorsum Spring collection. This just makes you want Burberry.

I love the slightly obnoxious patterns (pentagons on a trench coat!) and how delightfully shaggy everything is. Especially the guys, though baggy, oversized jackets don't quite remind me of Spring. But then again, I live in San Francisco.

Burberry Prorsum Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

I'm going to come right out and say it: the pattern on the button up reminds me of micelles.

London Spring 2012: Mary Katrantzou and Matthew Williamson

I've heard of color blocking, but Mary Katrantzou's trompe l'oeil floral pattern blocking is looking quite marvelous. I'm also now wondering why every skirt ever doesn't have an attached train.

Mary Katrantzou Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

 

Who knew that I would fall in love with paisley and fringe. At the same time. Other than Matthew Williamson.

Matthew Williamson Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

London Spring 2012: Pringle of Scotland and Paul Smith

Pringle of Scotland brings it back to high school geometry with some mesmerizing tessellations and patterns.

Pringle of Scotland Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

And Paul Smith keeps it effortlessly classy as always, but suspiciously (and chicly!) androgynous.

Paul Smith Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

I love the British.

New York Spring 2012: Zac Posen

I guess mermaid silhouettes are in for Spring 2012. That is, if you're in the market for a gown.

I feel compelled to include some of my favorite Zac Posen dresses from his Spring collection - I suspect they might show up a couple of times on upcoming red carpets.

But anyways, enjoy the pomp and vibrancy of the many cocktail dresses and voluminous gowns! My favorite is the strapless, sky blue gown with the lifted, ruffled hemline.

Zac Posen Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

New York Spring 2012: Proenza Schouler

Please, please, please browse through this collection. I promise you will not regret the decision. As always, Proenza Schouler is inspired, visually stunning, and cutting edge. Obviously I'm no designer (and no expert fashion critic, as I've said before), but I find it thoroughly exhilarating to see a bounty of raffia skirts and dresses, as well as eel skin! Who would ever imagine? Besides, of course, Jack and Lazaro.

The leaf patterns and colors are getting me itching and raring to go for Spring 2012.

Proenza Schouler Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

New York Spring 2012: Prabal Gurung

Sometimes I surprise myself with how eccentric my taste can be.

Which is the one word I would start with describing Prabal Gurung's Spring 2012 collection. There's something so very symbiotic about his symmetrical, psychedelic purple patterns (I'm seriously into the first look!) At the same time, though, everything looks so devious and offbeat, e.g. his torso cutouts and furry tulle skirts and gowns.

Perhaps furry tulle speaks to an off-kilter alter ego I didn't know I had.

Prabal Gurung Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

Source: NY Mag

New York Spring 2012: Jason Wu

It's electric!

As adorable as Jason Wu is, the man has some serious potential. It's as if his riveting design ideas and artfully built pieces come to him with no effort at all. Case in point: his very edgy (and electrically colored) yet soft and classic (and borderline sporty) Spring 2012 collection.

It's on the shorter end as collections go, so you should have plenty of time to go through all his looks! It builds so nicely, from his very light and breezy springtime pieces, up to the voluminously ruffled evening gowns of his last few looks. Really, it's quite satisfying.

Jason Wu Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear

Source: NY Mag